Quad staying machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for forming stays on four edges of a carton. The machine includes a mandrel which drives a carton blank provided with stays between upright stay forming members and upright side panel forming members to fold side panels against the mandrel and to partially form stay members. Further advance of the mandrel causes the front and rear panels to engage forming members to be folded to a position substantially perpendicular to the central panel with outwardly extending portions of the stay members opposite edge portions of the end panels. Stay forming and crimping members are advanced into engagement with the outwardly extending portions of the stay members to drive prongs thereof into edge portions of the end panels and to crimp the prongs therein.

United States Patent Nickum Dec. 11, 1973 QUAD STAYING MACHINE PrimarExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz y [76] inventor: Robert H. Nickum, c/o Norwood2 afil slposl Tool & Die C0., 5123 Montgomery nomey ames earce et Rd.,Cincinnati, Ohio 45212 [22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT 21 APPL22 ,15 A machine for forming stayson four edges ofa carton. The machineincludes a mandrel which drives a carton blank provided with staysbetween upright stay form- [52] US. Cl. 93/41.1 ing members and uprightside panel forming members [51] Int. Cl B3lb 1/46 to fold side panelsagainst the mandrel and to partially [58] Field of Search 93/41, 41.1,56; form stay members. Further advance of the mandrel 29/243, 57 causesthe front and rear panels to engage forming members to be folded to aposition substantially perpendicular to the central panel with outwardlyextend- [56] Reierences Cited ing portions of the stay members oppositeedge por- UNITED STATES PATENTS tions of the end panels. Stay formingand crimping 2,962,944 12/1960 Neely 93/41 members are advanced intoengagement with the out- 3,080,796 3/1963 Twitchellet a1. wardlyextending portions of the stay members to 3988381 1 5/1963Palstetaldrive ron s thereof into edge portions of the end P 8 3,102,4569/1963 Bailey panels and to crimp the prongs therein 9 Claims, 16Drawing Figures Plummets: I ma SHEET 1 01'' 8 Ill TENTEUBECI 1 ms SHEEIt {If 8 PATENIED DEC] 1 I973 SNEHSME QUAD STAYING MACHINE This inventionrelates to a box-making machine. More particularly, this inventionrelates to a machine for making boxes having metal stay members at edgesthereof.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine which folds a cartonblank having stay members mounted thereon and crimps the stay members inposition.

Briefly, this invention provides a machine into which carton blanks arefed. Each blank includes four stay members mounted on opposed front andrear panels. A mandrel engages a central panel of the blank and formsthe carton blank against first forming members which fold opposed sidepanels into position and against stay forming members which partiallyform the stay members. Then the front and rear panels are folded intoupright position with the partly formed stay members opposite crimpingmembers. Further advance of the mandrel causes the crimping members toadvance toward the mandrel in unison to fold and crimp the four staymembers into position reinforcing edges of the carton formed from theblank.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertainsfrom the following detailed description and the. drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a box making machine constructedin accordance with an embodiment of this invention, supports thereforbeing partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a view in rear elevation of the machine shown in FIG. 1 with astop member thereof being removed to reveal interior structure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the machine, a carton blankbeing shown in association therewith, hinge lines in the carton blankbeing shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view in section taken on the line 4-4in FIG. 2 showing a carton blank at a carton forming station;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in section taken generally on the same lineas FIG. 4 but showing the carton blank partly formed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 6-6 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing crimping members and supportstherefor;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view in upright section showing the crimpingmembers in association with a carton blank and a carton forming mandrelin a first position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in upright section showing the crimpingmembers in association with the carton blank and the carton formingmandrel in a second position;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view in upright section showing the crimpingmembers in association with the carton blank and the carton formingmandrel in a third position;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner of a carton beforecompletion of folding and attaching of a stay member;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a carton formed on the machine;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line 13-13 in FIG.1, an alternate position of drive members of the machine being shown indot-dash lines;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary schematic view showing construction of a cartondischarge arrangement of the machine;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing details of acrimped portion of one of the stays together with fragmentary portionsof the mandrel and one of the crimping members at an edge of the carton;and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line 1616 in FIG.5.

In the following detailed description and the drawings, like referencecharacters indicate like parts.

In FIGS. 1-3 inclusive is shown a carton forming machine 20 which isconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention and whichincludes upright frame bars 21 and 22 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which are linkedby cross bars 23 and 24 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The cross bars are shimmed outfrom the upright bars 21 and 22 by shims 26 and 27 (FIG. 3). Spacedhorizontal plates 28 and 29 mounted on the cross bars 23 and 24 definean enclosed space 30 between the cross bars 23 and 24. Upright frameplates 31 and 32 are mounted on the cross bars 23 and 24, respectively,inside the space 30 and extend upwardly therefrom. A third upright frameplate 33 (FIG. 1) is supported in parallelism with the plates 31 and 32by fasteners 34 mounted in the plates 31 and 32 and fasteners 341mounted in the cross bar 24. A motor 36 (FIGS. 1 and 2) mounted on aplate 37 supported on upper edges of the upright frame plates 31, 32 and33 drives a motor shaft 38 on which a pulley 39 is mounted. A belt 40runs on the pulley 39 and on a driven pulley 42 carried by a shaft 421.The shaft 421 carries a pinion 43 which drives a spur gear 44 mounted ona shaft 46 to drive a pinion 47 mounted on the shaft 46. The pinion 47in turn drives a spur gear 48 rotatably mounted on a shaft 49. Theshafts 421, 46 and 49 are rotatably mounted in bearings, not shown indetail, carried by the plates 32 and 33. During operation of themachine, the shafts 421 and 46 are driven continuously. A singlerevolution clutch 51 is mounted on the shaft 49. When a pivotallymounted stop actuator bar 52 is swung counterclockwise from its FIG. 2position, a stop lug 53 (FIG. I) is released to be received in a slot(not shown) in a hub 531 of the gear 48 so that the clutch 51 connectsthe shaft 49 to the spur gear 48 for a single turn of the shaft 49 atthe end of which the stop lug 53 is again engaged by the stop actuator52 to cause release of the clutch 51. A friction brake 54 having shoeswhich engage the shaft 49 under pressure of a compression spring 55prevents overrunning movement of the shaft 49. The brake S4 is linked tothe plate 33 by a pin 56 mounted in the plate 33. The brake continuouslyrestrains the shaft 49 but, when the clutch is engaged to provide adriving force, the braking resistance is overcome by the driving force.The stop actuator bar 52 is urged to the FIG. 2 position by a tensionspring 57. The stop actuator bar 52 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 58mounted on the plate 33. A T-shaped stop lifter 59 is pivotally mountedon a stub shaft 60 mounted on the plate 33 with the head thereofengaging the stop actuator bar 52. A stop release rod 61 extendsupwardly from the stop lifter 58 to a solenoid 62 (not shown in detail).When the solenoid 62 is energized, the stop release rod 61 is raised toswing the stop lifter 59 counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 2 to causecounterclockwise swinging of the stop actuator bar 52 for releasing theclutch 51 to engaged position. As shown in FIG. 13, a crank 63 ismounted on the shaft 49. The crank 63 is linked to a reciprocatingupright bar 64 by a link 66. The reciprocating upright bar 64 is guidedfor up and down movement by roller guides 67 mounted on the plate 31.During one turn of the shaft 49, the crank 63 turns from the full lineposition of FIG. 13 through the dot-dash line position at which thecrank is indicated at 63A and the link at 66A back to the full lineposition, and the reciprocating upright bar 64 makes one down and upmovement. The structure described to this point is similar in structureand operation to conventional punch press structures and the like. A boxforming mandrel 69 (FIG. 3) is mounted on the lower end of thereciprocating upright bar 64 and moves down and up therewith.

Carton blanks 71, one of which is shown in FIG. 3, are fed to themachine over an entry table assembly 711. The entry table assembly 711includes inverted U-shaped frames 72 and 73 (FIG. 1) which are separatefrom and independent of the frame of the machine proper. Horizontal bars74 and 76 supported on the frames 72 and 73 support a crosswise frameplate 77 which spans the bars 74 and 76. Angle-shaped guide members 78and 79 (FIG. 3) are mounted on the crosswise frame plate 77. Fasteners81 (only one of which is shown) mounted in the plate 77 extend throughslots 82 and 83 in the guide members 78 and 79 respectively, to hold theguide members 78 and 79 in adjusted position.

The carton blank 71 (FIG. 3) includes a rectangular central panel 84,rectangular side panels or flaps 86 and 87 hinged to the central panel84 at hinge lines 88 and 89, respectively, a front panel or flap 91hinged to the central panel 84 at a hinge line 92 and a rear panel orflap 93 hinged to the central panel 84 at a hinge line 94. The panels84, 86, 87, 91 and 93 are integrally formed of stiff paperboard. Metalstay members 96 and 97 are attached at opposite side edges of the frontpanel 91. Metal stay members 98 and 99 are attached at opposite sideedges of the rear end panel 93. As shown in FIG. 11, the stay member 99includes an elongated sheet metal body having a central row ofperforations 101 which provide a line of weakening along which the bodyof the stay member can be folded. In addition, metal of the stay memberis pierced and shaped at rows of openings 102 and 103 to form prongs 104(FIG. which can be imbedded in and crimped over into material of thecarton blank 71 to attach the stay member 99 thereto. As shown in FIGS.3 and 11, one edge portion of each metal stay member, in which theopenings 103 are located, extends outwardly from the flap or panel towhich the opposite edge portion of the stay member is attached, asindicated at 1031 in FIG. 11.

The carton blank 71 is fed into the machine by a drive roll 106 and anidle roll 107 (FIG. 3). Collars 108 and 109 on the idle roll 107 gripthe carton blank 71 against the roll 106 as shown in FIG. 6. The roll106 is driven by a belt 110 (FIG. 3) which runs on a pulley 111 carriedby a motor shaft 112 driven by a motor 113. The rolls 106 and 107 arerotatably mounted in bearing bores (not shown) in bearing blocks 1131and 1132. The bearing blocks 1131 and 1132 are adjustably mounted onupright portions 1133 and 1134, respectively, of the frame 72. The motor113 is mounted on an appropriate bracket (not shown) carried by theupright portion 1133. As shown in FIG. 6, the carton blank 71 isadvanced beneath the mandrel 69 until a leading edge of the front panel91 of the carton blank is received in an angle-shaped switch operatorand stop 114. As shown in FIG. I, the stop 114 is mounted on a crank bar116 which is pivotally mounted on an auxiliary frame 117. When the stop114 is engaged by one of the carton blanks, the stop swings to the rightas shown in FIG. 1 sufficiently to actuate a limit switch 118. Actuationof the limit switch 118 energizes the solenoid 62 to cause engagement ofthe single revolution clutch 51 starting a cycle of the mandrel 69. Thecarton blank 71 is released by the drive roll 106 and the collars 108and 109 as the stop actuates the switch 1 18 and the mandrel 69 startsdownwardly.

The front panel 91 of the carton blank 71 is guided into position byguide members 119 and 121 (FIG. 2). The guide members 119 and 121 aresimilar in construction and only the guide gember 121 will be describedin detail. As shown in FIG. 6, the guide member 121 includes a body 122provided with a dovetail slot 123 in which a transverse bar 124 isreceived. A screw fastener 126 threaded in the body 122 and engaging thetransverse bar 124 holds the guide member 121 in position thereon. Aguide lug 127 extends upwardly from the body 122. The guide lug 127includes an angled face 128 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and a carton blankpositioning face 129, which extends parallel to the direction ofmovement of the carton blanks. A shoulder 131 (FIG. 6) at the upper endof the body 122 underlies an outwardly projecting portion 1311 of thestay member 97 as shown in FIG. 4 when the carton blank is at a cartonforming station. The guide members 119 and 121 (FIGS. 2 and 3) positionthe carton blank with the stop 114 (FIG. 5) limiting advance of thecarton blank so that, when the carton blank stops at the carton formingstation, the central panel 84 is centered under the mandrel 69. Rearguide members 132 and 133 (FIG. 3) are mounted on a second transversebar 134 in the manner that the rear guide member 133 is shown in FIGS. 5and 6. A dovetail slot 136 (FIG. 6) in the rear guide member 133receives the transverse bar 134. A thumb screw 1137 threaded in the rearguide member 133 engaging the transverse bar 134 holds the rear guidemember 133 in position on the transverse bar 134. When the carton blank71 stops, outwardly extending edges of the stay members 98 and 99 (FIG.3) overlie the rear guide members 132 and 133 as shown in FIG. 4.

The transverse bar 124 is mounted on studs 137 (FIGS. 2 and 5) and 138(FIG. 2) mounted in a block 139, and studs 141 and 142 mounted in ablock 143. The blocks 139 and 143 are mounted on the upright frame bars21 and 22, respectively. The studs 137 and 138 are mounted in bores 144and 146 (FIG. 16), respectively, in the block 139. The studs 141 and 142are mounted in similar bores (not shown) in the block 143. Thumb screws147 and 148 threaded in the transverse bar 124 bear on the blocks 139and 143, respectively, in the manner that the thumb screw 147 is shownin FIG. 16 to hold the transverse bar 124 in spaced relationship to theblocks 139 and 143. Nuts 1371, 1381, 1411 and 1421 (FIG. 2) threaded onthe studs 137, 138, 141 and 142, respectively, limit outward movement ofthe transverse bar 124. The transverse bar 134 is similarly mounted onstuds 149 and 151 (FIG. 3) mounted in the block .139 and on similarstuds (not shown) mounted in the block 143. Thumb screws 152,

only one of which is shown, threaded in the transverse bar 134 engagethe blocks 139 and 143 to hold the transverse bar 134 in position.

Elongated rods 153 and 154 (FIG. 3) are positioned between the transversbars 124 and 134. Details of construction of the rods 153 and 154 andcomponents supported thereby are similar, and only the rod 153 andassociated components will be described in detail. The rod 153 extendsthrough a bore 156 in the block 132 and a similar bore 157 in theupright frame 21. Nuts 158 and 159 (FIG. 4) threaded on the rod 153 holdthe rod 153 in adjusted position. A block 161 is mounted on theelongated rod 153. An extension portion 162 of the block 161 carries achannel-shaped flap forming member 163. Crosswise rods 164 and 166 aremounted in the block 161. The rods 164 and 166 are above and below andengage upper and lower faces 167 and 168 (FIG. 2), respectively, of anecked-in portion 169 of the transverse bar 124 as shown in FIG. 7. Thecrosswise rods 164 and 166 also engage upper and lower faces 171 and172, respectively, of a necked-in portion of the transverse bar 134.Cranks 174 and 176 are pivotally mounted on the crosswise rods 164 and166, respectively. An L-shaped crimping and forming member 177 ismounted on free ends of the cranks 174 and 176 forming a parallelogramlinkage therewith. As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the cranks 174 and 176and the member 177 can swing downwardly. A tension spring 178, whichextends between lugs 179 and 181 mounted on the cranks 174 and 176,respectively, urges the cranks 174 and 176 and the member 177 to theposition shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 at which stop lugs 182 and 183 on thecranks 174 and 176 engage the member 177 limiting upward movement. Aroller 184 is rotatably mounted on a flange 186 of the member 177 torotate on an axis parallel to the rods 164 and 166 and extendingcrosswise of the direction of mandrel advance. An upright face 1861 onthe body ofthe member 177 is opposed to the mandrel 69. The face 1861extends parallel to the direction of movement of the mandrel and to theopposed face of the mandrel. In a similar fashion, a second L-shapedcrimping and forming member 187 is supported on cranks 188 and 189 (FIG.5) which are also pivotally mounted on the rods 164 and 166. Also, in asimilar fashion, a block 191 mounted on the elongated rod 154 supportsrods 192 and 193 (FIG. 4) on which cranks 194, 196, 197 and 198 arepivotally mounted. L-shaped crimping and forming members 199 and 201 aresupported on the last mentioned cranks.

As the mandrel 69 moves downwardly engaging the central panel 84 of thecarton blank 71, the side panel 87 engages the flap forming member 163so that the side panel 87 is folded upwardly to the position shown inFIG. 5. Similarly, the side panel 86 (FIG. 4) engages a flap formingmember 1631 supported by the block 191 to be folded upwardly. At thesame time the front panel 91 is forced downwardly causing the staymembers 96 and 97 to be partially folded into the position that themember 97 is shown in FIG. 5. The rear panel 93 is forced downwardlybetween the guide members 132 and 133 to cause partial folding of thestay members 99 and 98 to the position at which the stay member 99 isshown in FIG. 5. As the carton blank is moved downwardly during thefirst portion of its downward movement after engaging the carton blank,the outer edges of the stay members 96 and 97 (FIG. 4) engage uprightfaces 203 and 204 of the guides 119 and 121, respectively. At this timethe outer edges of the rear stay members 98 and 99 engage upright faces206 and 207 of the rear guide members 132 and 133, respectively.

As the mandrel 69 progresses further downwardly, the front panel 91(FIG. 6) engages the transverse bar 124 and the rear panel 93 engagesthe transverse bar 134. Upper inner edges 209 and 211 of the transversebars 124 and 134 are beveled at 45 angles to the path of mandrel advanceto guide the front and rear panels to swing upwardly to the positionshown in FIG. 5 at which the outwardly extending partially folded edgesof the stay members are opposed to the folding and crimping members inthe manner that the stay members 97 and 99 are shown in FIG. 5 oppositethe folding and crimping members 177 and 187, respectively. As themandrel 69 moves further downwardly, the central panel 84 of the cartonblank is brought into engagement with the roller 184 of the folding andcrimping member 177, as shown in FIG. 8 andwith similar rollers of theother folding and crimping members. As the mandrel 69 moves downwardlyfurther to the FIG. 9 position, the folding and crimping members swingdownwardly with the cranks on which they are mounted and inwardly towardthe mandrel 69 to complete folding of the stay members and to causecrimping of the prongs 104 of the stay members to the crimped positionshown in FIG. 15. As the mandrel 69 advances further downwardly to theFIG. 10 position, the folding and crimping members swing outward topermit the lower edge of the mandrel 69 to move past the roller 184 andthe other similar rollers. When the mandrel 69 approaches the bottom ofits cycle, a valve operator 213 (FIG. 13) mounted on the upright bar 64engages a valve button 214 of a valve 216 which is supported on anextension 217 (FIG. 3) of the upright plate 31 to operate the valve 216.The valve 216 is connected to a source of air under pressure by a supplyline 219 (FIG. 14). When the valve 216 is opened by actuation of thevalve operator 213, air under pressure from the source is suppliedthrough the valve 216 and a line 221 to a channel 222 inside the uprightbar 64. An air cylinder 223 is formed inside the upright bar 64, and thechannel 222 supplies the air under pressure to the upper end of thecylinder 223. A piston 224 moves in the cylinder 223. A shaft 226attached to the piston 224 carries a plunger or head 227 which engagesthe central panel 84 of a completed carton 231, and when air underpressure is supplied to the cylinder 223, the head 227 is projecteddownwardly as indicated at 227A to cause the completed carton 231 to bedischarged from the mandrel. As the mandrel 69 starts to returnupwardly, the valve button 214 is released so that the valve 216 movesto its other or released position at which the line 221 is connected toan exhaust line 236 (FIG. 14), and the air in the cylinder 223 can bedischarged therethrough. A compression spring 237 causes retraction ofthe piston 224, the shaft 226 and the head 227. The completed carton 231can fall onto an appropriate conveyor 239 (FIG. 1).

The carton forming machine illustrated in the drawings and describedabove is subject to structural modification without departing from thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby letters patent is:

l. A carton forming machine for shaping a carton blank having a centralpanel, opposed front and rear panels having stay members mountedthereon, and opposed side panels, which comprises upright stay formingmembers and upright side panel forming members at a carton formingstation, means for positioning the carton blank at the carton formingstation with the stay forming members underlying outwardly extendingportions of the stay members and with the side panel forming membersunderlying the side panels, the carton positioning means including astop engageable with an edge portion of the front panel of the cartonblank when the carton blank is disposed at the carton forming station, aswitch operator connected to the stop, actuation of the switch operatorcausing operation of the mandrel advancing means when the carton blankis at the carton forming station, a mandrel, means for advancing themandrel into engagement with the central panel to advance the sidepanels into engagement with the side panel forming members to be formedto positions extending transversely of the central panel and to advancethe front and rear panels between pairs of the stay forming members tocause inward folding of the stay members between the stay formingmembers, front and rear panel forming members, further advance of themandrel causing the front and rear panels to be folded against the frontand rear panel forming members to positions extending transversely ofthe central panel to dispose the outwardly extending portions of thestay members opposite edge portions of the side panels, stay forming andcrimping members, and means for advancing the stay forming and crimpingmembers into engagement with the outwardly extending portions of thestay members to drive prongs thereof into the edge portions of the sidepanels and to crimp the prongs therein.

2. A carton forming machine for shaping a carton blank having a centralpanel, opposed front and rear panels having stay members mountedthereon, and opposed side panels, which comprises upright stay formingmembers and upright side panel forming members at a carton formingstation, means for positioning the carton blank at the carton formingstation with the stay forming members underlying outwardly extendingportions of the stay members and with the side panel forming membersunderlying the side panels, the carton positioning means including astop engageable with an edge portion of the front panel of the cartonblank when the carton blank is disposed at the carton forming station, adriven roller means and a second roller means arranged to grip thecarton blank against the driven roller means for advancing the cartonblank to the carton forming station, the roller means releasing thecarton blank when the carton blank engages the stop, a mandrel, meansfor advancing the mandrel into engagement with the central panel toadvance the side panels into engagement with the side panel formingmembers to be formed to positions extending transversely of the centralpanel and to advance the front and rear panels between pairs of the stayforming members to cause inward folding of the stay members between thestay forming members, front and rear panel forming members, furtheradvance of the mandrel causing the front and rear panels to be foldedagainst the front and rear panel forming members to positions extendingtransversely of the central panel to dispose the outwardly extendingportions of the stay members opposite edge portions of the side panels,stay forming and crimping members, and means for advancing the stayforming and crimping members into engagement with the outwardlyextending portions of the stay members to drive prongs thereof into theedge portions of the side panels and to crimp the prongs therein.

3. A carton forming machine for shaping a carton blank having a centralpanel, opposed front and rear panels having stay members mountedthereon, and opposed side panels, which comprises upright stay formingmembers and upright side panel forming members at a carton formingstation, means for positioning the carton blank at the carton formingstation with the stay forming members underlying outwardly extendingportions of the stay members and with the side panel forming membersunderlying the side panels, a mandrel, means for advancing the mandrelinto engagement with the central panel to advance the side panels intoengagement with the side panel forming members to be formed to positionsextending transversely of the central panel and to advance the front andrear panels between pairs of the stay forming members to cause inwardfolding of the stay members between the stay forming members, front andrear panel forming members, further advance of the mandrel causing thefront and rear panels to be folded against the front and rear panelforming members to positions extending transversely of the central panelto dispose the outwardly extending portions of the stay members oppositeedge portions of the side panels, stay forming and crimping members, themeans for positioning the carton blank at the carton forming stationincluding guide lugs on the stay forming members outboard of portionsthereof which underly the stay members mounted on the front panel, theguide lugs being engageable with the outer edges of the last mentionedstay members for guiding the front panel, and means for advancing thestay forming and crimping members into engagement with the outwardlyextending portions of the stay members to drive prongs thereof into theedge portions of the side panels and to crimp the prongs thereinv 4. Acarton forming machine for shaping a carton blank having a centralpanel, opposed front and rear panels having stay members mountedthereon, and opposed side panels, which comprises upright stay formingmembers and upright side panel forming members at a carton formingstation, means for positioning the carton blank at the carton formingstation with the stay forming members underlying outwardly extendingportions of the stay members and with the side panel forming membersunderlying the side panels, a mandrel, means for advancing the mandrelinto engagement with the central panel to advance the side panels intoengagement with the side panel forming members to be formed to positionsextending transversely of the central panel and to advance the front andrear panels between pairs of the stay forming members to cause inwardfolding of the stay members between the stay forming members, front andrear panel forming members, further advance of the mandrel causing thefront and rear panels to be folded against the front and rear panelforming members to positions extending transversely of the central panelto dispose the outwardly extending portions of the stay members oppositeedge portions of the side panels, stay forming and crimping members,each of the stay forming and crimping members including a body having anupright face extending substantially parallel to the opposed face of themandrel, a pair of cranks pivotally connected to the body, and means forsupporting pivots of the cranks so that the cranks and the body form aparallelogram linkage, and means for advancing the stay forming andcrimping members into engagement with the outwardly extending portionsof the stay members to drive prongs thereof into the edge portions ofthe side panels and to crimp the prongs therein.

5. A carton forming machine as in claim 4 wherein the bodyof each of thestay forming and crimping members includes a flange opposed to themandrel, and means on the flange engageable by the central panel of thecarton blank opposite the mandrel as the mandrel advances so that thestay forming and crimping member is advanced by advance of the mandrel.

6. A carton forming machine as in claim 5 wherein the means engageableby the central panel of the carton blank is a roller pivotally mountedon the flange for rotation about an axis parallel to the pivots of thecranks.

7. A carton forming machine as in claim 4 wherein the stay forming andcrimping members swing from a first retracted position at which theupright face of each stay forming and crimping member is spaced from themandrel a sufficient distance to accommodate the opposed stay member andend panel, through an intermediate postion at which the upright facesgrip the stay members and end panels against the mandrel to a secondretracted position at which the mandrel can pass between flanges of thestay forming and crimping members, and means is provided for urging thestay forming and crimping members to the first retracted position.

8. A carton forming machine as -in claim 7 wherein means is provided fordischarging a formed carton from the mandrel when the stay forming andcrimping members are in the second retracted position.

9. A carton forming machine as in claim 8 wherein the means fordischarging the formed carton includes a plunger mounted on the mandrel,engageable with the central panel, and extendable outwardly of themandrel, and means for extending the plunger when the mandrel passesbetween the flanges.

1. A carton forming machine for shaping a carton blank having a centralpanel, opposed front and rear panels having stay members mountedthereon, and opposed side panels, which comprises upright stay formingmembers and upright side panel forming members at a carton formingstation, means for positioning the carton blank at the carton formingstation with the stay forming members underlying outwardly extendingportions of the stay members and with the side panel forming membersunderlying the side panels, the carton positioning means including astop engageable with an edge portion of the front panel of the cartonblank when the carton blank is disposed at the carton forming station, aswitch operator connected to the stop, actuation of the switch operatorcausing operation of the mandrel advancing means when the carton blankis at the carton forming station, a mandrel, means for advancing themandrel into engagement with the central panel to advance the sidepanels into engagement with the side panel forming members to be formedto positions extending transversely of the central panel and to advancethe front and rear panels between pairs of the stay forming members tocause inward folding of the stay members between the stay formingmembers, front and rear panel forming members, further advance of themandrel causing the front and rear panels to be folded against the frontand rear panel forming members to positions extending transversely ofthe central panel to dispose the outwardly extending portions of thestay members opposite edge portions of the side panels, stay forming andcrimping members, and means for advancing the stay forming and crimpingmembers into engagement with the outwardly extending portions of thestay members to drive prongs thereof into the edge portions of the sidepanels and to crimp the prongs therein.
 2. A carton forming machine forshaping a carton blank having a central panel, opposed front and rearpanels having stay members mounted thereon, and opposed side panels,which comprises upright stay forming members and upright side panelforming members at a carton forming station, means for positioninG thecarton blank at the carton forming station with the stay forming membersunderlying outwardly extending portions of the stay members and with theside panel forming members underlying the side panels, the cartonpositioning means including a stop engageable with an edge portion ofthe front panel of the carton blank when the carton blank is disposed atthe carton forming station, a driven roller means and a second rollermeans arranged to grip the carton blank against the driven roller meansfor advancing the carton blank to the carton forming station, the rollermeans releasing the carton blank when the carton blank engages the stop,a mandrel, means for advancing the mandrel into engagement with thecentral panel to advance the side panels into engagement with the sidepanel forming members to be formed to positions extending transverselyof the central panel and to advance the front and rear panels betweenpairs of the stay forming members to cause inward folding of the staymembers between the stay forming members, front and rear panel formingmembers, further advance of the mandrel causing the front and rearpanels to be folded against the front and rear panel forming members topositions extending transversely of the central panel to dispose theoutwardly extending portions of the stay members opposite edge portionsof the side panels, stay forming and crimping members, and means foradvancing the stay forming and crimping members into engagement with theoutwardly extending portions of the stay members to drive prongs thereofinto the edge portions of the side panels and to crimp the prongstherein.
 3. A carton forming machine for shaping a carton blank having acentral panel, opposed front and rear panels having stay members mountedthereon, and opposed side panels, which comprises upright stay formingmembers and upright side panel forming members at a carton formingstation, means for positioning the carton blank at the carton formingstation with the stay forming members underlying outwardly extendingportions of the stay members and with the side panel forming membersunderlying the side panels, a mandrel, means for advancing the mandrelinto engagement with the central panel to advance the side panels intoengagement with the side panel forming members to be formed to positionsextending transversely of the central panel and to advance the front andrear panels between pairs of the stay forming members to cause inwardfolding of the stay members between the stay forming members, front andrear panel forming members, further advance of the mandrel causing thefront and rear panels to be folded against the front and rear panelforming members to positions extending transversely of the central panelto dispose the outwardly extending portions of the stay members oppositeedge portions of the side panels, stay forming and crimping members, themeans for positioning the carton blank at the carton forming stationincluding guide lugs on the stay forming members outboard of portionsthereof which underly the stay members mounted on the front panel, theguide lugs being engageable with the outer edges of the last mentionedstay members for guiding the front panel, and means for advancing thestay forming and crimping members into engagement with the outwardlyextending portions of the stay members to drive prongs thereof into theedge portions of the side panels and to crimp the prongs therein.
 4. Acarton forming machine for shaping a carton blank having a centralpanel, opposed front and rear panels having stay members mountedthereon, and opposed side panels, which comprises upright stay formingmembers and upright side panel forming members at a carton formingstation, means for positioning the carton blank at the carton formingstation with the stay forming members underlying outwardly extendingportions of the stay members and with the side panel forming membersunderlying the side panels, a mandrel, means for advancing the mandrelinto engagement with the central panel to advance the side panels intoengagement with the side panel forming members to be formed to positionsextending transversely of the central panel and to advance the front andrear panels between pairs of the stay forming members to cause inwardfolding of the stay members between the stay forming members, front andrear panel forming members, further advance of the mandrel causing thefront and rear panels to be folded against the front and rear panelforming members to positions extending transversely of the central panelto dispose the outwardly extending portions of the stay members oppositeedge portions of the side panels, stay forming and crimping members,each of the stay forming and crimping members including a body having anupright face extending substantially parallel to the opposed face of themandrel, a pair of cranks pivotally connected to the body, and means forsupporting pivots of the cranks so that the cranks and the body form aparallelogram linkage, and means for advancing the stay forming andcrimping members into engagement with the outwardly extending portionsof the stay members to drive prongs thereof into the edge portions ofthe side panels and to crimp the prongs therein.
 5. A carton formingmachine as in claim 4 wherein the body of each of the stay forming andcrimping members includes a flange opposed to the mandrel, and means onthe flange engageable by the central panel of the carton blank oppositethe mandrel as the mandrel advances so that the stay forming andcrimping member is advanced by advance of the mandrel.
 6. A cartonforming machine as in claim 5 wherein the means engageable by thecentral panel of the carton blank is a roller pivotally mounted on theflange for rotation about an axis parallel to the pivots of the cranks.7. A carton forming machine as in claim 4 wherein the stay forming andcrimping members swing from a first retracted position at which theupright face of each stay forming and crimping member is spaced from themandrel a sufficient distance to accommodate the opposed stay member andend panel, through an intermediate postion at which the upright facesgrip the stay members and end panels against the mandrel to a secondretracted position at which the mandrel can pass between flanges of thestay forming and crimping members, and means is provided for urging thestay forming and crimping members to the first retracted position.
 8. Acarton forming machine as in claim 7 wherein means is provided fordischarging a formed carton from the mandrel when the stay forming andcrimping members are in the second retracted position.
 9. A cartonforming machine as in claim 8 wherein the means for discharging theformed carton includes a plunger mounted on the mandrel, engageable withthe central panel, and extendable outwardly of the mandrel, and meansfor extending the plunger when the mandrel passes between the flanges.